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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by LEE k SHEPERD, Publishers, Boston, in the Office of 
Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



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SPEHCER'S UNIVERSAL STAGE. 



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A Collection of COMEDIES, DRAMAS, and FARCES, adapted to either Public 
or Private Performance. Containing a full description of all 
the necessary Stage Business. 



JPItlCE, 15 CENTS EACH. 



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Thrcf / 
acters. 



Loiiflon. A Drama m 
•ts. C Male, 4 Female cliai 



2. 



) 3. 



5. 



>/'. C. 



b s- 



r^'icl»«ias Flam. A Comedy in Two 
Acts. Hy J. B. liuckstone. o Male, 
3 Female cliaracters. 

The "WelsSn Oirl. A Comedy in 
One Act. Vy Mr?,. Planche. :i Male, 
2 Female cliaracters. 
4. Johik Wopps. A Farce in One Act. 
liy \V. E. Suter. 4 Male, 2 F male 
cliitractcrs. 

Th^ Turkish Bath. A Farce in 
One Act. r>y Jlontague Williams 
and F. C. liurnand. (5 Male, 1 Fe- 
male character. 

The Two Putlilifoots. A Fiiree 
in One Act. liy J. M Morton. 3 
Male, :} Female characters. 

Old IFoiiesty. A Comic Drama in 
Two Acts. 15y J. M. 3Iorton. 5 
Male, Z Femnle characters. 

Two Gciitienieit in a Fix. A 
Farce in One Act. By AV. E. Suter. 

2 -M.ile cliaracters. 

9. Sniashiiigtoit ftoit. A Farce in 
OneAct. liy T. . I. Williams. 5Male, 

3 Female characters. 

10 Two Heads Better thanOne. A 

Fiirce in One Act. By Lenox Home. 

4 Male, 1 Female character. 

11. John I>ohbs. A Farce in One Act. 

ii. J. M. IMorton. 5 Male. 2 Female 
characters. 

12. Tlie I>aughter of the Regi- 

ment. A Drama iu Two Acts. By 
Edward Fitzball. (i Male, 2 Female 
characters. 

13. Aunt Charlotte's Maid A Farce 

m One Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 
Male, 3 Female characters. 

14. Brother Bill and Me. A Farce iu 

OneAct. By W. E. Suter. 4 Male, 
3 Feinalf! cliaracters. 

15. Dune on Both Sides. A Farce in 

On Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 
Male, 2 Female characters. 
1? rundnchetty's Picnic. A Farce 
. in One Act. By T. J. Williams. 6 
^^ Male, 3 Female characters. 
17. I've written to Browne. A Farce 
ill One Act. By T. J. Williams. 4 
Male, :'. Female characters. 



18. 



19. 



20. 



21. 



22. 



23. 



24. 



25. 



2G. 



27. 



28. 



30. 



31. 



A Farce in One (Ti) 
3 Malo, () 



Lendiikg a Hand. 

Act. By li.A. A'Becket. 

2 Female characters. 
My Precious Betsy. A Farce in 

One Act By J. M. Morton, 4 Male, 
4 Fem.li characters. 

My Ti-i i: ]\ oxt. A Farce in One Act. 
By T. J. AVilUams. 4 Male, 3 Fe- 
male cl!a-;. teis. 

IVine Po:.: ? of the Law. A Com- 
edy in 'Jn, Act. By Tom Taylor. 
4 Male, .^ lemale characters. 

The Phantom Breakfast. A 
Farce in One Act. By Cliarles Sel- 
by. 3 Male, 2 Female characters. 

Bandelions Bodges. A Farce in 
One Acf. Bv T. J. Williams. 4 
Blale, 2 Female characters. 

A Slice of IL,uck. A Farce in One 
Act. Tv J. 31. Morton. 4 Male, 2 
Female d^aracters. 

Always Intended. A Comedy in 
One Act. .'ij Horace Wigan. 3 
Male. 3 Fema/e characters. 

A Bull in a China Shop. A Com- 
edy in Two Acts. By Charles Mat- 
thews. G Male, 4 Female characters. 

Another Glass. A Drama in One 
Act. By Thomas Morton. 6 Male, 

3 Female characters. 
Bowled Out, A Farce in One Act. 

By H . T. Craven. 4 Male, 3 Female 

characters, 
20. Cousin Tom. A Commedietta in 

One Act. By George Roberts. 3 

Male, 2 Female cliaracters. 
Sarali's Young Man. A Farce in 

One Act. By W. E. Suter. 3 Male, 

3 Female cliaracters. 
Hit Him, He has Wo Friends. 

A Farce in One Act. By E. Yates (J) 

and N. H. Harrington. 7 Male, 3 

Female characters. 
The Christening. A Farce in One 

ict. By J. B. Buckstone. 5 Male, 

d h emale characters. 
A Race for a ^Vidow. A Farce 

in One Act. By Thomas J. AVil- 

Hams. 5 Male, 4 Female characters. 
Tour T^ife's in ©anger. A Farce 

in One Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 

Male, 3 Female characters. 
True unto Beath. A Drama in 

Two Acts. By J. Sheridan Knowles. 

G Male, 2 Female characters. 



3^ 



:L:COOCOC£)tjQo£)L>Ou 



,68. ( j) 



THE 



VIRGINIA YETERAN 



^ Pilitery gvamit, in imxx g^rt.$. 



W KITTEN BY 

THOMAS F. POWER, 

rOR THE BENEFIT OF THE EELIEF FUND OF D. B. FAMES POST 142, 
G. A. R., OF SOUTH FR^yvIINGHAM, MASS. 



/oo//&^^-^V 



BOSTON: 

LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS. 

NEW YORK: 

LEE, SHEPARD AND DILLINGHAM. 

1874. 



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Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, 

By THOMAS F. POWER, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



TMP96-Q06e47 



Stereotyped at the Boston Stereotype Foundry, 
19 Spring Lane. 



AS A SLIGHT TOKEN OF EESPECT AND ADSnEATION, 

^^iB grama b gespalfullg gebixaleb 

(by peemission) to 

GENERAL DAVID H. STROTHER (Porte Ceayon), 

A VIEGINIAN AND A UNION SOLDEEK, 

BY THE AUTHOR. 



THE VmomiA VETERAN. 



PERSONS REPRESENTED. 

Colonel Robert Blunt, a Virginia Planter, and a Veteran of 
the Mexican War. 

Henry Blunt, Son of the Veteran, and Captain of Union Vol- 
unteers. 

Hubbard, ^ 

Vincent, i 

Keeler, y Recruits in Captain Blunt's Company. 

Holmes, j 

Crooke, J 

Paul Hazard, the Union Scout. 

Simon Muggins, a Farmer. 

SciPio, a Slave belonging to Colonel Blunt ; quick-witted. 

Jim, do. do. do. do.; dull and sleepy. 

Ella Blunt, Wife of Captain Henry Blunt. 

Sally Blunt, Sister of the Veteran. 

Mary Hazard, the Scout's Daughter. 

Violet, Daughter of Captain Henry Blunt. 

Union Soldiers. 

Guerrillas. 



COSTUMES. 



Colonel Blunt (age 76) ; first dress, white mustache, side 
whiskers, and wig ; buff vest, with brass buttons ; rich dress- 
ing-gown. Camp-scene dress, linen coat ; wide-brimmed, 

5 



6 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

light-colored hat ; powder horn, and pouch for buckshot. 

Last scene, a different dressing-gown. 
Henry Blunt; first, citizen's dress; second, captain's uniform. 
Vincent; first, hunting suit; second. Union uniform. 
HuBBAKD, Keeler, Holmes, and Crookb ; Union uniforms. 
Paul Hazard ; hunting suit ; change hat or cap in last act. 
Simon Muggins ; common farmer's dress ; change for last scene. 
SciPio; first, a civilian's, misfitting; last act, a ragged Union 

uniform. 
Jim ; a civilian's, misfitting. 
Ella Blunt; alight, summer dress; last act, a different one. 

The hair should not be arranged in the style of to-day. 
Sally Blunt (age 60) ; a dark dress, handsome cap, specta- 
cles; for the last act, a different cap, and a slight change of 

dress. 
Mary Hazard (age 14) ; first dress, riding suit, looped up ; 

neat hat, with small, black ostrich feather. Last act, summer 

in-door dress. 

Entrances, Exits, and Positions. 
R means right ; L left ; C centre ; E front. 
Time of representation, two hours. 



Act 1. Scene 1. — The Forest. Vincent solus, armed 
with shot gun, and equipped for hunting, with blowing 
horn, &c. 

Vincent. I suppose that if what I don't know was all 
printed and bound, it would make a large volume ; but 
what I should like to know now is, how I missed that 
deer ; just as fair a shot as ever I had in my life. I 
never shall hear the last of that from Hazard. Plallo ! 
here he comes. 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 7 

Enter Hazard, r., with gun and equipments. 

Hazard {looking around). Well, Vincent, where's the 
deer? Didn't I hear you shoot a while ago? 

Vincent. Deer ? ha ! That deer is like Madigan's 
clams. 

Hazard. How's that? 
Vincent. Struck off into deep water. 

Hazard. Ha, ha, ha! What? missed him? 

Vincent. Missed him, clear. 

Hazard. What was it? 

Vincent. A little spike buck. He came down the hol- 
low there on the keen jump, just ahead of the dogs. I 
fired as he passed that white oak, and never turned a 
hair. 

Hazard. Did you know that you and I are going to 
hunt another kind of game ? See here ! I've got a piece 
of news for you. Virginia has gone out. 

Vincent. Gone out ? 

Hazard. You look as if I meant she had gone out like 
a lamp. 

Vincent. I honestly think it's about the same thing. 

Hazard. Give us your hand, Vincent ; give us your 
hand. I've kind o' mistrusted you all along ; but you're 
all right. (Shakes Vincent's hand.) 

Vincent. I've talked this thing over considerably, late- 
ly, with Henry Blunt, and I've made up my mind. 

Hazard. Henry Blunt is a man — every inch of him ; 
and so is the old colonel. Hallo ! here comes Muggins. 
What's he after now ? 

Vincent, No good ; you may bet your dear life on that. 



8 THE YIRGI^^A VETERAN. 

Enter Muggins, l. 

Muggins. What! out a liuntia'? I heerd the dogs 
a riinnin'. How's the hunt? 

Hazard. There's a different kind of hunt up from 
this time out. Virginia has joined the Southern Confed- 
eracy. 

Simon {excitedly). Hooray I hooray ! Well done ! 
well done ! That's the talk ! Now we'll see some folks 
upside down. Now we'll see how some things will turn 
out. Some chance vit for a pore man. Whoopee ! 

Hazard, Chance to what ? 

Simon. Now the Union men will have to lay close, 
dad burn 'em. 

Hazard. Who do you mean ? 

Simon. You never heerd of no Colonel Sharp round 
here, did ye ? 

Hazard. No. 

Simon. Well, then, you never heerd of no Colonel 
Blunt, you hain't, have ye? You never heerd of that 
young rooster that crows so loud, — Henry Blunt, — you 
hain't, have ye ? I tell you some folks will have to lay 
low. Some o' these folks that fly high will light in a 
puddle. 

Hazard. I should like to know, ^Euggins, what you 
have got against the colonel and his family. 

Simon. What have I got? First and foremost, ain't 
they agin the Southern Confederacy? Ain't that enough? 
A pack of cussed aristocrats ! that's what they are. 
That youn« Henry Blunt, every time he nods to me, 
seems to say, '' O, you pore, mean, contemptible, no-ac- 
count vagabone ! Git out o' my way ! '* 



THE VIRGINIA VETEKAN. 9 

Hazard. Nonsense, nonsense ! All your imagination, 
Simon Muggins ; and let me tell you, the man who harms 
Cojonel Blunt or his family harms me. 

Vincent. Well, I can tell you what kind of a man the 
colonel is. Last year, when my horse died. Colonel 
Blunt sent me the money, as a gift, to buy another. 
He charged me never to tell of it. I promised him I 
wouldn't ; but the time has come to tell of it. 

Hazard. Then here again ; last summer^ when my 
wife had a fever, the neighbors didn't dare to come to 
my house for fear of catching it. But Henry Blunt's 
wife, God bless her, she dared to come ; and Miss Sally 
Blunt, God bless her, she dared to come ; not once, but 
often, — both of them. 

Vincent. Yes ; everybody loves and respects the whole 
family. I stick by them that stick by me ; that's my 
way. 

Simon. See here, men. I believe in my soul that 
you two are a couple of damned traitors. (Vincent and 
Hazard start threateningly.) Ha ! don't you try to run 
any of your rigs on me. (^Draivs a, boiuie-hiife.) You'll 
find they don't call me Wolf Muggins for nothing ; you'll 
find I can bite. Now I warn you, I warn you, if you 
join the enemies of the Southern Confederacy, — if you 
go agin your state, — you had better never been born. 
The earth will gape open and swallow you up before you 
know it. Do you hear that? (Going towards R., he 
turns.) Do you hear it? {Going again, he turns.) Do 
you hear it? \_Exit Simon, r. 

Vincent. What a wild beast ! 

Hazard. Yes, and wild beasts sometimes get hunted. 



10 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Wolves sometimes come to bloody ends. Blow your 
horn and call in the dogs. (Vincent hloivs horn.) 

\_Exeunty l.» 
End of Act 1, Scene 1. 



Act 1. Scene 2. — A furnished Apartment in Colonel 
Blunt's Souse. Colonel Blunt solus, at c, in large 
easy chair, with pillow ; table at his left, rear. 

Col. Blunt, Here am I, an old hulk, stranded high 
and dry ; while all the boys, and some of the graybeards 
too, as to that, are off to the war. By the great hokey ! 
if I was only twenty years younger, these infernal rebels 
should see the sword I carried at Buena Vista. 

Enter Scipio, l., with table-cloth. 

Scipio. Ole mas'r, Miss Sally she say will you have 
your supper? 

Col. Scip, come here ! (Scipio comes to f.) Scip, 
you have always been a good boy. You and your youug 
master Henry have been together from childhood, and I 
think you are attached to us. 

Scip. 'Fore God, ole mas'r, I'd lay down my life for 
any o' dis family. — (^Aside.) I donno 'bout Miss Sally, 
though. — {Aloud.) I would for you, or Mas'r Henry, 
or Miss Ella. 

Col. Well, now I want you, Scip, when my son gets 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 11 

his commission, to go to the war with him as his servant, 
and look out for him. Will you do it? 

Scip. I will, mas'r, sure's you're born. 

Col. And you won't run away, — make for the free 
states the first chance you get? 

Scip. O, O! Ole mas'r, what you take me for? 
One o' dese common niggers ? Dat's too bad ! dat's too 
bad ! You knows I's a 'liable nigger. 

Col. No, no ! I oughtn't to have said that, Scip ; I 
oughtn't to have said it. There {gives Scir a dollar)^ 
there's a silver dollar for you. Now go and see about 
my supper. (Scipio lays the table-cloth^ and exit, l.) Now 
is a chance for Henry to make himself a name. Gen- 
eral Blunt ! Ha ! how would that sound ? And why 
not? Why not? A good lad, a brave lad; he has 
never hesitated. {A little pause.) Hesitated? Why 
should he hesitate ? In such a cause as this who could 
hesitate? Break up this Union! By the great hokey, 
if it wasn't for this infernal rheumatism — (twinges). 

Enter SciPio, l. 

Scip. Ole mas'r, you want waffles wid your supper? 
Miss Sallys she say — 

Col. (testily). Yes, yes, yes! (Exit Scipio, l.) O, 
O ! what a twinge that was ! 

Enter Scipio, l. 

Scip. Ole mas'r, you want honey on your waffles? 
Miss Sally — 



12 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Col. Begone ! If you say Miss Sally to me again, 
I'll murder you both. (^Exit Scipio, l. The colonel tries 
to arrange his pillow.) Scip ! Scip ! — Sally ! Sally ! 
{Bings table bell.) Can't I make anybody hear? {At 
the top of his voice.) Sally ! 

Enter Sally, l., and stops at wing. 

Sally (very deliberately). Well, brother. 

Col. What the devil do you mean by standing there 
and saying " Well, brother? '* Why don't you come and 
help me ? 

Sally. Poor man ! What do you want done ? 

Col. (mocking). Poor man ; I want this pillow fixed. 
(Sally arranges the pillow.) O, O ! don't touch me. 

Sally. Now, brother, how can I fix the pillow if I 
don't touch it? 

Col. Take hold of the pillow, then, and don't touch 
me. 

Sally. What a temper you have got ! 

Col. Temper, temper ! I've got an angelic temper, and 
always had ; but what can you do with this cussed rheu- 
matism ? 

Sally. O ! how can you talk so ? What if you should 
die in one of these swearing fits ! 

Col. Look here, Sally. You are a sensible woman. 
You know you are a sensible woman. You don't sup- 
pose the Lord will punish a man that's got the rheuma- 
tism as badly as I have. Speaking of swearing, — ha, 
ha, ha ! — there was a fellow at Buena Vista — 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 13 

Enter Violet, l., rear^ running. 

Violet. O, graa'pa ! O, gran'pa ! 

Col. Keep her off! Keep her off! Don't let her 
touch me. (Violet stops.) Now, come easy, you dear 
little rascal, and see if your poor old grandpa has got 
anything for you. (Violet comes and stands between his 
Jcnees. Colonel gives her a little parcel.) There, take 
that, you rogue, you. 

Violet. I want to kiss you, gampy. 

Col. Do you, my dear? Then so you shall. 

Violet. How your whiskers do tickle my cheeks, 
gran'pa ! 

Col. Well, my dear, before a great while a younger 
man than I am will tickle your cheeks with his whiskers. 
Sally, did any young man ever tickle your cheeks with 
his whiskers? 

Sally. La, brother. I should be ashamed. {Retires 
to rear.) 

Col. Sally, there is not another such child as that 
{enter Ella, l., and stands at l. ivith handkerchief at her 
face) in all Virginia. I'll bet my best saddle-horse 
against an old stirrup-leather — (/S'ees Ella.) Ella, 
my dear, haven't you done crying yet? Hush, my dear ; 
that's a good little soul. 

Ella. (^Throws herself on her knees before him^ her 
face on his knee.) O, father ! 

Col. There, there, there ! darling. Ella, be a brave 
girl. Don't you, — I charge you, — don't you break my 
boy's spirit down. 



14 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Enter^ unperceived, Henry Blunt, at r., rear, and stands 
there. 

Ella. (Looks in the old man's face.) But O, father ! 
remember I have neither mother (sobbing), nor brother, 
nor sister ; and now to lose my husband — 

Col. My dear child, he'll come back safe. While I 
live, Ella, you know my heart. 

Ella. O, father ! I am not ungrateful. (Seizes his 
hand.) 

Col. 0,0,0! You've almost killed me. You've 
almost killed me. (Ella rises and caresses him.) I 
know, my dear, you didn't go to do it ; but you've almost 
killed me. (Gets more quiet.) Now, as I said before, 
don't you make my son show the white feather. 

H. Blunt (from the rear). He will never do that ; he 
comes of too good a stock. 

Col. Ha ! there's my boy. Come round here, Hen- 
ry, where your old father can see you. (Henry conies to 
F.) We'll whip the rebels, my lad, as we whipped the 
rascally Mexicans at Buena Vista. 

Enter SciPio, l. 

Scip. O, you here, Mas'r Henry? I thought you was 
done gone away, or I'd ha' brought in dat paper. 

H. B. Brought what paper, Scip? 

Scip. Paper what a man done IcP on a gray horse, 
long switch tail; envelope long as dat, Mas'r Henry 
(measures on his arm), long as dat. 

H. B. Go and bring it, Scip. (Scipio, going l., turns.) 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 15 

Scip. Sealing-wax on it, Mas'r Henry, big chunk. 

H. B. That will do, ' Scip ; that will do. Go and 
bring it. \_Exit Scipio, l., rear. 

Col. Hey? What? That must be, Henry, that 
must be the commission. 

H. B. I think it is, father. 

Enter SciPiO, L., rear^ with large envelope which he hands 
to Henry Blunt. 

Scip. Dar it is, Mas'r Henry, jis as I tole you. You 
gee, Mas'r Henry, I's a 'liable nigger. 

H. B. {Beads address.) "Henry Bhuit, Esquire, at 
the Locusts, near Marengo Springs, Jasper County, Vir- 
ginia." 

Col. Esquire, Esquire ! That can't be it, then. 

H. B. (glancing -over the paper). Yes, father; this is 
indeed the long-expected document. \^Exit SciPiO, L. 

Col. God be praised, my boy ! Hurra for the old 
flag! Hurra for the Union! {Bises slowly.) Sally! 
go get my coat, — my old military coat. 

Sally. What under the sun — 

Col. Don't stand there gaping as if you was moon- 
struck ! Get my coat and my sword. {Exit Sally, l.) 
Now I'll tell you how I cut down the Mexicans at Bueua 
Vista. You see, the cavalry came charging up to us ; 
we expected to be carried away like drift-wood in a 
freshet. We all thought, — ha, ha, ha ! — we all thought 
we had eaten Uncle Sam's pork and beans, and hard tack, 
for the last time. {Enter Sally, l., with coat and sword.) 
O, here comes Sally with the coat. Here ! help me on 
with it. 



16 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Sally. Is the man crazy? He has taken leave of his 
senses. 

Gol. {holding up coat). There, there! you see that? 
There's a bullet hole ! 

Sally {scornfully). Bullet hole! that's a moth hole. 

Gol. Hold your tongue ! The woman's a fool. What 
do you know about war? I tell you that was a bullet, — 
a bullet right through the tail. {All laugh.) Very well, 
very well, you may laugh as much as you please ; but 
to-day is my birthday. I am seventy-six years old ; my 
son is Captain Henry Blunt, and I'm going to have the 
old coat on once more if I die for it. {Partly strips off 
dressing-gown.) 

H. B. I see the old fire is not all extinct, father. 

Sally. It will kill you, doing it. 

Col. {to Sally). You mind your business ! When I 
am determined to do a thing^ I'm goin^ to do it. 

Ella. But what are you going to do, father ? 

Col. {softening to her). Going to do, my dear? I'm 
going to tell you how I killed the Mexicans at Buena 
Vista. 

Sally {aside). We have heard that story more than 
forty times. 

Col. {Strips off gown and throws it down. Com- 
mences to put on an old military coat^ aided by Henry 
and Ella.) Gently, gently ! O, ! Hold on, hold 
on! {They stop; the Colonel takes a long breath.) 
Henry, my corporosity has increased wonderfully since 
this old coat was new. I was a good-looking young man 
then, Henry. 

H. B. It runs in the family. {HeTps with the coat.) 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 17 

Col. Ha, ha, ha ! do you hear that? It runs in the 
family. Ha, ha, ha ! 0,0! you are killing me. Gen- 
tly ! 0,0! {Finally gets the coat on.) There, give 
me the sword. (Sally hands sword.) There ; you see, 
the Mexican cavalry, with their splendid uniforms, and 
all in apple-pie order, came charging on us, enough to 
sweep us all away. 

Enter SciPio, l., with large tray^ containing tea-service 
of silver and of ivhite ware. Scipio stands near the l. 
of his master, mouth open, listening. 

Our batteries poured the canister into 'em. Just at the 
nick of time old Taylor sings out, " A little more grape. 
Captain Bragg ! " That was too much for 'em. Ha, ha, 
ha ! They broke and ran like sheep. But there was 
one fellow had got a little too near us. I gave my horse 
the spurs and dashed at him, rode in my stirrups, gave 
my sword a swing — ( With his sword hits the tray held 
hy Scipio. The tray falls. Sally and SciFio jump for 
the fallen aad broken articles.) 

Sally. Now you have done it I 

Scip. Hi ! look a dar ! 
(Henry and Ella assist the old mail, who drops the sword 
and settles into the easy -chair with tioinges.) 

End of Act 1, Scene 2. 
2 



18 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Act 1. Scene 3. — A Boom. Ella solus, coming for- 
ward from R. 

Ella. At last, at last, the time has come for us to 
part. I will not by my weakness unnerve him. I have 
read of the firmness of Roman matrons ; now they shall 
see how an American matron, when her country is in 
peril, can show firmness and patriotism as well. I will 
say to him, " Go, my husband ! our country calls you — 
go ! " Not a sign of weakness shall he see. Now, from 
this moment forth, I will not shed another tear until after 
he has gone. {Going towards r.) Not another tear. 
Not another tear. \_Exit, r. 

Enter Henry Blunt, l. 

Henry. Yes, I do wish to live. Life is sweet to me. 
Blest with my dear wife and child, the sole heir to 
the great estates of my father (warm-hearted, brave old 
man, long may he live !), life opens fair before me. But 
I chose rightly — I chose well. Educated at West Point, 
my sword is my country's. I can recognize no narrow 
state lines, — no North, no South. I owe my allegiance 
to my whole country. So long as the dear old flag shall 
wave, so long, while I live, will I follow. Never shall 
it be said of Henry Blunt that he was deaf to the call of 
honor. Never shall my children hear their father's 
name coupled with "traitor." No! the path of duty 
lies plain before me, and though it may lead to poverty, 
nay, to death itself, that path I'll follow to the end. 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 19 

Enter Violet, l., ijlaying hoop or hattledoor. 

Henry. Good by, ray child ; good by. 

Violet. When are you coming back, papa? 

Henry. When am I coming back? What a question ! 
Who can read the future ? ( Kisses the child. Exit Vi- 
olet, L., playing. Henry looks after her.) Happy! 
happy ! thoughtless ! Heaven watch over her. 

Enter Ella, r., unperceived. 

Now, hardest task of all, — my faithful wife, — to say 
that bitter word, Farewell. {She sobs audibly. Henry 
hears and turns to her. ) My dear, dear wife ; dearer to 
me than all the world beside. Pray for me, Ella ; pray 
for me when I am gone. 

Ella (throwing her arms around him). O, Henry ! 
can you leave me? 

Henry. Ella, where are all your brave resolves? You 
would not have me bring dishonor on my name? {A 
little pause.) Tell me, Ella. 

Ella {sobbing, luith her head on his shoulder). O, no, 
no ! 

Henry. You would not have your husband stay, — a 
man disgraced? 

Ella {shudder in gly). O, no, no, no! (Henry hisses 
her., and gently unlooses her arms. 'Ei.i.Jl say s, faintly), 
"Go, go! Henry. May God watch over you." (Exit 
Henry, l) O, cruel, cruel, cruel war! My heart is 
breaking. (Ella sitiks into a kneeling position^ and bends 
forward, burying her face in her hands.) 

Act Drop falls. 



20 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Act 2. Scene 1. — The Forest. Enter Mary Hazard, 

R., in riding suit^ luith basket of cakes and switch. 

Mary. I could not help stopping to get some of these 
beautiful blue iSowers. {Picks up flowers ; looks at b,.) 
Whoa ! pony. Whoa ! boy. How the flies do plague 
him ! I wish there were no flies but butterflies. I wish 
I was a butterfly myself. {Sings the song, " Fd be a 
butterfly." During the first stanza enter Keeler, r., tip- 
sy, unjjerceived, who at the end of first stanza drinks from 
canteen. Towards the close of the second, drinks again, 
and at the end, clears his throat.') 

Keeler. Ahem ! (Mary gives a little scream, and 
starts to go, alarmed.) Halt ! Who goes there ? 

Mary {aside). He is Union. — {Aloud.) I am a 
Union girl. 

Keeler. Advance, Union girl, and give the countersign. 

Mary. I haven't got any such thing. 

Keeler. What have you got in that basket? 

Mary. O, not what you said ; only cakes. 

Keeler. Advance, Union girl, and give us a cake. 
(Mary advances timidly, and offers the basket. Keeler 
takes a cake and pockets it.) Don't you be frightened. 
They call Keeler a hard boy ; but you better believe he 
isn't going to harm a feather, — I mean a hair of your 
head. I've got a little sister at home, the perfect image 
of you, only her hair is black, and yours is yellow ; your 
nose is a kind of a pug, and hers is a regular hawk's- 
bill. 

Mary {aside). How can I get away? Yet why 
should I be afraid ? I see he will not harm me. 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 21 

Keeler. Has your father got horses and mules? 
(Mary nods.) Has he got any fowls, — any poultry ? 

Mart/ (aside). What can he want to know for? 
— (Aloud.) Yes. 

Keeler. Are they fat? 

Mary. They ought to be, for I feed them twice a day 
myself. 

Keeler. What are the names of your fowls? 

Mary. There is only one that has a name, — old Crop- 
percrown. 

Keeler. No, no! I mean what kinds, — what vari- 
eties ? 

Mary. Varieties? O, varieties. There are hens, 
and pullets, and chickens, and one old rooster. 

Keeler. (Eyes wide open.) O ! 

Mary. Yes. 

Keeler. Where do you live ? 

Mary. Three miles on that road (points) , just beyond 
the run. 

Keeler. And your father's name is — 

Mary. Paul Hazard. 

Keeler, Humph ! here is a hard case to settle ; a 
hard case. Here's Hazard, a good Union man ; that I 
know. Decency says to me, " Keeler, let his fowls alone." 
Appetite says, " Go it, Keeler ! " Now, what is a fellow 
to do ? Let's put it to vote : all those that are in favor 
of robbing Hazard's henroost will say yes. (A short 
pause.) Those opposed will say no. 

Mary (eagerly). No, no! 

Keeler. No ! (Exultingly.) The noes have it ; it is 
not a vote ; that's settled with great una — nimina — min- 



22 THE TTRGINTA VETERAN. 

ity. (Smiles at Mary.) What a — hie — devil of a 
word that is ! (Drinks.) Who else lives in this neigh- 
borhood ? 

Ilary. Simon Muggins lives only a mile from here 
on that road. (Points l.) 

Keeler. Has he got fowls? 

Mary. O, yes ; plenty. 

Keeler. Well, he's a law-breaker ; that's what he is. 
I know something about law ; and the law of the State 
of Virginia is, that no man of the name of Muggins 
shall keep fowls ; and the law must and shall be respect- 
ed ; if he don't respect it I Avill. What is this Muggins, 
Union or Secesh ? 

Mary. O, rank Secesh ! 

Keeler. No wonder the country is going to the dogs, 
when a man by the name of Muggins, and Secesh at that, 
keeps fowls. Never mind, we'll fix him. (Preparing to 
drinJcj he offers canteen to Mary, luho puts her hands he- 
hind her.) You no need to turn up your nose at it ; it's 
A No. 1, and forty-fourth proof. (Offers again. Mary 
refuses. Keeler drinks.) Well, good by ! The best 
friends must part. I am sorry to deprive you of the 
pleasure of my company ; but you see I must attend to 
this (short pause) — what did you say his name was? 

3Iary. Muggins. 

Keeler. Yes, Muggins. Attention, Keeler ! Shoul- 
der arms ! (Shoidders musket and goes through the man- 
ual as per his own commands.) Right dress ! Dress up 
a little on the left ! Steady ! Front ! Left face ! Mark 
time, — marcb ! (3Iarks time.) Catch step there ! 
(Catches step.) 

Mary. Ha, ha, ha I 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 23 

Keeler (^slowly turning to her). Did you — hie — say 
anything? 

Mary. No ! I did not — hie — say anything. 

Keeler. Well, good by, then. Forward — mareh ! 
{Going.) Catch step there ! (^Catches step.) 

[^Exit Keeler, l. 

Mary. Ha, ha, ha ! ^ut I'm thankful he is gone. 
How he smelled of whiskey! Poultry? Now that fel- 
low must be what they call a bummer. (Looks at r.) 
Whoa ! pony. I'm coming. [^Exit Mary, r. 

End of Act 2, Scene 1. 



Act 2. Scene 2. — Camp in the Woods. Present Cap- 
tain H. Blunt, Scipio, and a group of soldiers clean- 
ing arms. SciPiO is not in uniform. As the scene 
comes in vieiv a great burst of laughter is heard, pro- 
ceeding from the soldiers. 

Soldiers. Ha, ha, ha! 

1st Soldier Singer. Well, that is one of the best things 
I ever heard. I suppose it is my turn to spin a yarn ; 
but I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll sing you a song in- 
stead ; that is, if you say so. 

Soldiers. All right ! Go on ! A song. 

1st Singer. Come on, then, you songsters, and we'll 
sing them — (naming the piece. Singers rise and stand 
at c. Song and chorus. Soldiers applaud. Mary 
heard singing outside, ii.) 



24 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Enter Mary, r. 

Mary (timidly). I didn't know but what — I thought 
that — perhaps you soldiers would like some cakes, and 
so — I have brought you these. 

Soldiers (crowding around). Bully for you ! {&c.) 

(Captain, who has been sitting on a box at l., rear, 
comes forward and takes a cake.) 

Henry. Thank you, my child. (SciPio comes last of 
all, doubtfully. Mary holds the basket towards him. 
SciPiO takes a cake.) 

Scip. Thank you, young missus. (Mary goes to 
1,., front corner, and sets the basket there; returns to c.) 

Crooke (with his mouth full). How far have you 



come 



Mary. What? 

Crooke (louder). How far have you come? 

Mary. O, how far have I come? Six miles through 
the woods. 

Crooke. What ! All alone ? 

Mary. No. 

Crooke. Who was with you? 

Mary. My pony. 

Crooke. How old are you? 

Mary. Almost fourteen. 

Hubbard (aside, drawling). That fellow Crooke, be- 
cause he has studied law, thinks he must cross-examine 
everybody. 

Crooke. And do you mean to say that you have come 
six miles through the woods just to bring us these cakes? 

Mary. O, no ; that is, yes, sir ; yes. 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 25 

CrooJce. Yes and no ; woraaa like, you don't know 
your own mind. {Offers to kiss her. Mart gives a little 
scream.) 

Henry. What are you about with that child ? Leave 
her alone. 

Crooke (aside). O, yes ; an officer can do as he 
chooses ; but when it comes to a high private, all he can 
do is to take a back seat. Humph ! What a world this 
is ! Just wait until I'm a captain ! will you? WVU see 
if the high privates don't stand back. {Retires.) 

Henry {coming forivard). What is your name, my 
child? 

3Iary. Mary, sir. Mary Hazard. {Courtesies.) 

Henry. What! Paul Hazard's daughter? 

Mary. Yes, sir. {Courtesies.) 

Crooke {aside, having come to F.). Mighty polite, to 
be sure, all of a sudden. She didn't courtesy to me once. 
Humph ! What a world this is ! {Retires.) 

Henry. Well, Mary, you have got a good Union 
father, and I hope he has got a good Union daughter. 
{Puts his finger under her chin.) Hey, my girl ? 

Ilary. Yes, sir. My great-grandfather was at the 
siege of Yorktown, and surrender of Cornwallis ; and 
my grandfather was with Jackson at the battle of New 
Orleans ; and my father has gone as a scout ; and mother 
says she thanks God there is not a drop of rebel blood 
in the veins of one of us. 

Soldiers. Good ! Good ! 

Huhhard {at L. F., drawling). Ya — as. That's real- 
ly — a — exhilarating. If it isn't, I wish I may be shot. 

Henry {to Mary). I heard you singing as you came 
up. Won't you give us a song? 



26 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

■ Mary. I know a little song — {Naming it.) 

Henry, Let us have that. (Mary sings ; soldiers 
applaud. While Mary is singing, SciPiO is decidedly 
interested.) 

Vincent. Mary, I declare, you are quite a paragon. 

Huhhard {aside). There goes that disagreeable fel- 
low, Vincent ; he has to put in his oar. 

Vincent. Hubbard, what is a paragon ? 

Huhhard {drawls). O, I haven't quite forgotten all 
my geometry. A paragon — let me see — a paragon — 

! a paragon is a thing with a good many sides. 
Soldiers. Ha, ha, ha ! 

Huhhard (aside). Why, what the deuce are they 
laughing at? 

Mary. If that's a paragon I cannot be one, for I have 
only one side — the side of the Union. 

Henry. Well said, Mary. Well said. Let me give 
you a kiss for that. 

Mary. I should like it, but I am afraid mother 
wouldn't. 

Henry. How does it happen that you are willing that 

1 should kiss you, when you refused that soldier? 
Mary. {Bashfully^ smiling.) O ! you are so much 

better looking, sir. 

Henry. Ha, ha, ha ! An honest compliment, upon 
my word. {Offers to hiss her ; she covers her mouth with 
a letter.) Ah! what's this? A letter directed to Cap- 
tain Henry Blunt. {Opens and reads aside, at R. f.) 
"■ A squad of rebs will be upon you to-morrow morning ;• 
they cannot number, at the outside, over fifteen or twen- 
ty." {Pauses.) I cannot make this out. It looks like 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 27 

fish and crackers. The most crabbed hand I ever saw 
in my life. I don't know what that can be. O ! I see. 
"Bushwhackers," that's it, — *• bushwhackers. Keep 
your eyes open." (Folds letter. — Aside.) That's from 
Plazard. That man is true as steel, — worth his weight 
in gold. He sleeps with one eye open ; or don't he sleep 
at all? Fifteen or twenty bushwhackers, eh? We'll try 
to give them a suitable reception. 

Vincent. Mary, if you have good luck, with a few years* 
more^growth, you'll make quite a good-looking young 
woman. (Henky seats himself on a box at R. f., opens 
and reads documents.) 

" O Woman, in our hours of ease, 
Uncertain, coy, and hard to please, 
And variable as the shade 
By the light, quivering aspen made ; 
When pain and anguish wring the brow, 
A ministerino: anorel thou." Ahem ! Scott ! 

Hubbard, I ought to have been an actor. 

Mahhard {aside^ draivls). Ya — as — what they call 
a " supe." 

Vincent. Now listen to this. (Takes an attitude.) 
How is that for an attitude? (Eolls the letter r, and 
spins out the s's.) 

" With thundering knocks and shivering shocks. 
Shall break the locks — of prison gates ; 
And Phoebus' car — shall shine from far — 
(Roars.) And make and mar — 
(Shakes his head.) The cruel fates." Ahem ! 
Shakespeare ! 

(Soldiers laugh, with ironical cries of Bravo ! Encore !) 



28 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Vincent. There, what do you ihiuk of that, Hubbard? 
Mary, let me introduce you to private Hubbard, member 
of a large family, all descended from the old woman 
who lived in a shoe. 

Hubhard. You need not poke fun at my ancestors ; 
there have been some useful men among them ; there 
was that one who invented the Hubbard squash. 

Vincent (aside). The man who invented this fellow 
invented a cabbage-head. Ha, ha, ha ! 

Enter Keeler, l., tipsy^ with musket^ hag of poultry, and 
large loliite rooster. 

" O that a man should put an enemy into his mouth to 
steal away his brains " ! Ahem ! Shakespeare ! 

Keeler. Vincent, I'm sorry to see you in such a state. 

Vincent. What state ? Virginia ? 

Keeler. In a state of intoxification. {To the soldiers.) 
Gentlemen, you are all drunk ! [Soldiers laugh.) It's 
a disgrace ! 

Henry. (Coming to c. F.) What's all this about? 
(Feels of the hag Keeler carries.) What's all this? 

Keeler. It's all right, captain ; honor bright. I 
ofFored Muggins my note at six mouths, and he wouldn't 
take it. It's all right. 

Henry. Muggins? Have you been over to his place? 
How did it happen that Muggins didn't eat you up } 

Keeler. You ever been in his smoke-house, captain? 
I have, and then he turned the key on me. 

Henry. Yes. 

Keeler. Yes ; there I am amongst the hams, and the 
shoulders, and the middlings. 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 29 

Henry. Ah ! 

Keeler. Yes ; and then he tells me through the key- 
hole that he'd fix me. That's what he said, — he'd fix 
me. 

Henry. How did you get out? 

Keeler. After a while the door opens, and there stands 
Mr. Hazard. 

Henry. Hazard ! He saved your bacon ? 

Keeler. No, no ^bacon there. {Pats the hag.) All 
chicken meat, captain, — all right. Yes, there stands 
Mr. Hazard. Says he, You mis'able, drunken devil — 
that's what he said, — you go ! Go and tell Captain 
Blunt that I have taken you out of Muggins's clutches ; 
and tell Captain Blunt I doubt whether I have helped 
his company by turning you loose. 

Henry. How he complimented you ! 

Keeler. Mis'able, drunken devil ; that's what he said. 
By the blood of the Keelers ! if ever I meet that Haz- 
ard, I'll — (Pauses.) No, I won't ! He let me out 
of that smoke-house. 

Henry. But how did you get your fowls, after all? 

Keeler. Well, after I got started for the camp, I found 
I had forgotten my errand ; so back I goes, and collects 
these little animals. I'm all right, captain ; if ever you 
get sick and want chicken broth, just you call on me. 

Henry {returns to the box. Aside). To-morrow we 
must begin to draw the reins of discipline a little tighter. 

Hubbard (at l. f., to Mary, who has just reached 
L. F., to get her basket). Miss Mary, when a fellow is 
encouraged by the smiles of the fair sex (bows), he 
would (^drawling) go through fire and — 



30 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Mary. Brimstone ! 

Huhhard. No ! that is not what I was going to sa — 
ay. What I was going to sa — ay was, he would go 
through fire and — water. 

Mary. O ! 

Huhhard. Ya — as. Your coming over here is really 
— a — 

Mary. Amusing. 

Huhhard. No ! that is not what I^w^as going to sa — ay. 
What I was going to sa — ay was, it was quite romantic. 

Mary. Quite like a novel. 

Huhhard. Ya — as. I adore novels. Ya — as. (^ little 
pause.) Let me see ; where was I ? O ! ya — as. Your 
coming over here puts me in mind of the opera — (Mary 
slips to the rear, and exit with Captain Henry at r., 
rear) of the " Daughter of the Regiment ; " and we shall 
have to call you the daughter of Captain Blunt's compa- 
ny. Ha, ha, ha ! a very pretty idea, upon my word. 
Don't you — (Looks around.) Why, where the deuce 
is she? Sold ! If I'm not I wish I may be shot. Sold 
by a dam — sel fourteen years old. (Retires.) 

Scip. (at the rear, to the soldiers, as if continuing a 
chat.) — jis' as easy as fallin' off a log ; jis' as easy as 
dat. (Turning his hand over.) 

Vincent. What is that you can do so easy, Scip ? 

Scip. Beat dat white gal a singin'. 

Soldiers. (Quizzing Scipio.) 0,0! try it. No go, 
Scip. ((&c., &c.) 

Scip. (coining to the front, aside to Keeler, at r. f.). 
Mas'r Keeler, I would like to ax you one question. Ef 
dat rooster's tail was pulled out, and you wanted to hab 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 31 

it fixed, how would you do it? {The soldiers do not lis- 
teiiy hut proceed cleaning arms.) 

Keelcr. I wouldn't do it at all. I'd have him cooked 
quicker'n chain lightning. 

Scip. But if you wanted him to hab a new tail, how 
would you do it? 

Keeler. I don't know how I would do it. 

Scip. Well, I tell you. Ef dat rooster's tail was 
pulled out, and you wanted him to hab a new one, you'd 
hab to take him to whar dey re-tail poultry. Yah, yah, 
yah ! 

Keeler. Ha, ha, ha ! Fellows ! (Soldiers stop clean- 
ing arms and listen.) Here's one o' the best things. If 
my rooster has lost his tail, and I wanted him to have a 
new one, where should I carry him? 

Soldiers. We give it up, 

Keeler. Well, I should have to take .him to where 
they sell poultry at wholesale. Pla, ha, ha ! {A little 
pause.) Why don't you laugh? 

Soldiers. We don't see anything to laugh at. 

Keeler. {Coming to C, and considering.) Well, I 
don't exactly see the point myself, now ; but it Avas a 
first-rate joke only a minute ago. — {To Vincent, luho 
has come to c.) Vincent, you're a clever fellow ; where's 
my tent? You've got the camp all changed around so, 
and mixed up, I can't find it. 

Vincent. All right! go ahead! {Turns Keeler to- 
wards R.) 

Keeler. (Turning hack.) Vincent, you're a clever 
fellow, and I want to see you s — s — strictly temperate. 

Vincent. O, go along, go along ! You're a pretty 
temperance lecturer. 



32 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Keeler (going off^ again turns and slaps Vincent on 
the shoulder). And, Vincent, you're a clever fellow. I 
want to see you s — s — s — strictly honest.* 

Vincent. O, go along ! Talk about honesty with that 
bag of stolen fowls ! 

[Exeunt Keeler and Vincent, r. 

Croohe. Hubbard, they tell me you understand the 
bayonet drill ; will you go through it ? 

Enter Vincent, r. 
Huhhard. Ya — as, as well as I can. 

[BATOyET Z>RILL.] 

Vincent. Hubbard, you are *' the glass of fashion and 
the mould of form." Ahem ! I forget the author ; and 
there's more in you than I thought. Do you know I 
have always had a rather contemptible opinion of you? 

Hubhard. I never heard an opinion of yours that was 
not contemptible. 

Soldiers. Ha, ha, ha ! Had him there, Hubbard, 
(^c, &c.) Sing, Scip ! Sing ! (Scipio sings and 
dances.) 

End of Act 2, Scene 2. 

Act Drop falls. 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 33 

Act 3. Scene 1. — Parlor at Colonel Blunt's. Ella 

at rear, seiuing. Sally coming fonvard to c. 

Sally. Well, brother says he is going over to-morrow 
to see Henry ; so of course there is no use trying to keep 
him at home. He is the strangest man. I shall have a 
hard time with the servants while he is gone ; he has 
spoiled them, — threatening and threatening them all the 
time ; and he never lays the weight of a finger on them, 
and they know he never will ; so there's not another such 
set of niggers in all Virginia. But I must go and see to 
his clothes. [^Exit Sally, l. 

Ella (coming forward with open letter). I have 
read this letter, scanty as it is, a dozen times. This is 
my reprieve. I can but think this a good omen for the 
future, seeing him again so soon. O, joy, joy ! (Kisses 
the letter; reads.) 

'' Dear Wife : By a piece of blessed good fortune, I 
am sent to recruit the balance of my company in our own 
neighborhood, and shall be home the day after to-morrow. 
We are well and in good spirits. I have now but a hand- 
ful of men, nearly all being furloughed, but shall have a 
full company in a week or ten days. We are camped 
but six miles east of Hazard's, near the little chapel in 
the woods. Tell father to come over and see me to- 
morrow ; then I will go back with him. God bless you, 
my dear wife. Keep up a brave heart. (Stops and 
wipes her eyes.) Kiss Violet for me. Love to all. The 
messenger is leaving. Your loving husband, 

Henry Blunt.'* 



34 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

A brave heart ! O, Henry, how I wish I could share 
your dangers ; but it cannot be ; woman must suffer, and 
her heart must bleed in silence ; action is denied her ; 
what can I do? Brave, even to rashness, he needs no 
counsel to strengthen his heart and nerve his arm ; yet 
if my husband lives, he shall be proud when he thinks 
of his patriot wife, ready to sacrifice all for her country. 
But if he dies, — ah ! dreadful thought ! God look down 
in mercy on the widow and the fatherless. (Buries her 
face in her hands.) 

Col. (outside at l.). I tell you when I am deter- 
mined (enter Colonel and Sally. Jim follows, carry- 
ing parcels. Colonel and Sally go to front. Jim 
stands at c, with his parcels) to do a thing, I will do it. 
(Ella retires to r., and sews.) 

Sally. Brother, I will say you are the most obstinate 
man I ever saw. 

Col. Obstinate! Ha, ha ! I like that — obstinate! 
Now you know very well you can always lead me like a 
lamb, just by letting me have my own way. But why 
shouldn't I go? 

Sally. You know, brother, you have not got wholly 
over the rheumatism. 

Col. Got over the fiddlestick ! I tell you I am well, 
and sound. (Strikes his cane on the floor ; the shock jars 
him.) O! Ah! 

Sally (eagerly). There, there ! What did I tell you ? 
What do you think now? 

Col. Hold your tongue ! I believe in my soul that 
you're glad of it. 

Sally. O, brother ! How can you? 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 35 

Col. Well, Sally, I can't. You know I consider you 
the sum of all goodness — perfection. 

Sally. La ! brother, if I could only think you meant 
so ; but you are only flattering me. 

Col. Flattering? Pooh, pooh ! not a bit of it, Sally. 
I not only consider you perfection mentally, but I do 
think that you are, without exception, the finest-looking 
woman of your age in all Virginia. 

Sally. Yes ; I know when I was young I was con- 
sidered quite a beauty. 

Col. Ha, ha, ha ! Lord ! Sally, what a fool you 
are ! 

Sally. Yes, I am a fool to stand and listen to you. 
(Retires to r. ; sits and sews luith Ella.) 

Col. Whatever I tell you, you can rely upon. Jim, 
are you awake ? 

Jim. {sleepily). Yes, mas'r. 

Col. Well, if you are sure you are awake, if you are 
positively certain about it, put those bundles on the table 
there. (Points to tabl& at l. Jim does as told., then leans 
against the left front luing and dozes. The Colonel takes 
up a large, old, rusty pistol.) There, Ella, my dear; 
there is a pistol I had in the battle of Buena Vista. Talk 
about your Colt's revolvers ! 

Ella. Do, pray, father, put away the horrid old thing ! 

Col. Horrid old thing, indeed ! That's a pretty way 
for a soldier's wife to talk about a good honest old horse 
pistol, and one that has been in the service at that. 
Did I ever tell you how I beat a fellow shooting? You 
see it was just before the battle of Buena Vista. Jim ! 
are you awake? 



36 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Jim. {sleepily rousing). Yes, mas'r. 

Col. You lie, you rascal ! If you don't keep awake, 
I'll skin you alive ! Well, this fellow thought he could 
shoot. So he could, but I knew I could beat him, two to 
one; so I just cleaned up my pistols {ivipes the pistol luith 
the tail of his dressing-gown) ; this is one of the very 
ones. I don't know but what it is the very one ; by the 
way, I wonder where the other one is. Jim ! Confound 
me, if that nigger isn't fast asleep ! Hold on, I'll fix 
him ! {Fumbles luith vest pocket.) 

Sally. What are you going to do, brother? 

Col. I'm going to burn a match under his nose, and 
let him smell brimstone, and then he'll think he is in — 

Sally (cautioning). 0,0,0! 

Col. {moclcing). 0,0, O! What are you croaking 
about? I was only going to say he'd think he was in 
— trouble. {ChucJdes and shakes his sides. Burns a 
match under the nose of Jim, wJio chokes and wakes.) You 
villain, you ! I'll murder you if you don't keep awake ! 

Jim. {coolly). Ole mas'r, w-hat I gwine to do wid 
sich a par o' shoes as dese here, if I's a gwine ober to 
de camp wid you ? 

Col. Shoes ! there's a pair of boots of mine in the 
closet here ; you can take them, Jim. They'll do very 
well ; only a little worn. Let me see, though ; they'll be 
too small. What size do you wear, Jim ? 

Jim. If my feet isn't swelled, I kin get on thirteens. 

Col. Yes, that's true. I forgot, — they won't do. 
Never mind^ Jim. I'll see about that. {Shoulders cane, 
marches, and sings to himself.) "Why, soldiers, why 
should we be melancholy, boys?" Ella, my dear, have 
you seen to Henry's shirts? 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 37 

Ella. Yes, father ; they shall be all ready for you 
when you start. 

Col. {marches and sings). " Why, soldiers, why 
should we be melancholy, boys? Why, soldiers, why? 
whose business " — Ella, my dear, have you seen to Hen- 
ry's stockings, and his handkerchiefs ? 

Ella. Yes, father. 

Col. That puts me in mind of my saddle-bags. Jim ! 
I wish I may be blamed if that nigger isn't fast asleep 
again. (Draivs a small revolver. Ella stands in front of 
Sally, at the rear, measuring work, so that they do not ob- 
serve the Colonel's motions. — Aside.) I'll fire this within 
about a foot of his head, and see if that will rouse him. 
{Goes to Jim, asleep at left front wing^ and fires upward. 
Jim, with a cry, falls flat at c. Ella and Sally run off, 
1.., screaming.) Ha, ha, ha, ha! {Laughs heartily; a 
pause.) Get up, Jim ! Don't be a fool ; get up ! If 
you ain't up in one minute, I'll take a cowhide to you. 
{Takes a cowhide in his hand.) Now here's the cowhide. 
{Switches it.) Don't you hear it? Now you'd better be 
up before I count ten. One, two — 

Jim. {with his face buried in his arm-^i). O, mas'r ! 
I's dead. 

Col. Dead ! How the devil could you talk if you 
was dead ? Get up ! Three, four {sniffs) ; how good 
that powder smells ! Ever since the battle of Buena 
Vista, I have loved the smell of it. 

Jim. O, mas'r ! One o' my ears done shot off. 

Col. One of your ears off ! You know better ; feel 
of it and see if it is ; — five, six, seven, eight, nine, — 
time's almost up, Jim. 



38 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Jim. O ! I can't hear de fust ting in one o* my ears. 

Col. Can't hear with one ear? Well, let's see, then, 
if you can hear with the other one. Jim ! in — my — 
closet — is — a — bottle — part — full — of — whiskey. 
(Jim raises his head.) Of old whiskey. (Jim gets up.) 
Ha, ha, ha ! I thought that would fetch him to, if any- 
thing in the world would. Follow me, Jim. You'll 
never make a soldier if you can't stand saltpetre. (Go- 
ing to R.) Why, when I was in the battle of Buena 
Vista, the smoke — [Exeunt at r. 

End of Act 3, Scene 1. 



Act 3. Scene 2. — The Woods at dawn, Simon solus. 

Simon. I have not slept. I could not sleep. 'Tis 
time the men were here. Here 'tis daylight. This day, 
Henry Blunt, if there is any good iu steel and gunpow- 
der, you shall see the sun rise for the last time. Curse 
him ! Curse him ! I have hated him from a boy. Now 
the sight of him reminds me of the whip-hand the old 
man has got over me ; that deadly secret that the old 
man, I think, knows. Knows? He must know it ! But 
he never can prove it, — never. I defy him. If the old 
man was only safe in six feet of earth, I could breathe 
easy. No, no, no ! not another murder, — not another. 
Strange what thoughts will come over a man, especially 
in the night, under the stars. Sometimes I think how 
they are shining down on dead men's bones uuburied ; 
shining down, down, through the ocean, on the sightless 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 39 

eyes of drowned meu. And it is always his bones, and 
it is always his face. Night after night, night after night, 
that face is before me. Such dreadful dreams ! Last 
night I saw his skeleton ; and as I looked, the bony fea- 
tures of the fleshless skull moved. I saw them move. 
They seemed to try to speak. O, remorse, remorse ! 
What torments ! O, what happiness if I could but be 
changed into a tree or rock ! Great God ! To think I 
was once an innocent child ! and now — 

Enter 1st and 2d Guerrillas, r. 

Ist Guerrilla. Captain, what's the matter? You look 
as if you had seen a ghost. What makes you breathe 
so hard? 

Simon (looking wildly at the guerrillas), I — I — 
have been running, — and I fell, — and hurt me. 

2d Guerrilla. Running ! For what ? 

Simon '{fiercely). Do you doubt what I tell you? 
Do you mean to tell me I lie ? 

1st Guerrilla {interposing). No, no! captain; he 
don't doubt you. 

Simon. You're right. Pale ? Ha, ha, ha ! You 
thought I looked pale. Ha, ha, ha ! a good joke, — a 
good joke. {Earnestly.) Do you believe in ghosts? 

1st Gnerrilla. Not I. 

2d Guerrilla. Nor I. 

Simon {takes the 1st guerrilla hy the lapel of coat, 
and looks fearfully around) . Do you — do you be- 
lieve there is a hell hereafter ? or is our hell here upon 
earth ? 

1st Guerrilla. Captain, what's the matter with you? 
This is strange talk. What's the matter? 



40 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Simon. The matter ? Nothing. Nothing is the mat- 
ter with me. Come on, come on ! What are you stand- 
ing here for ? Come on ! \_Exeunt omneSi l. 
JEnd 0/ Act 3, Scene 2. 



Act 3. Scene 3, — TJie Forest. Holmes, the picket, 
solus at c. F. Holmes JcnocJcs his pipe against his 
musket. 

Holmes. Humph ! They say that tobacco is hurtful. I 
have formed a strong resolution on smoking. I have re- 
solved that I don't intend to try to quit. I think I can 
keep that resolution. Come to think of it, this is Sun- 
day. How calm and still it is ! (Looks in front.) That 
smoke over the other side of the lake goes up straight as 
a gun-barrel. Now who would think, to look around 
here, that there was a bushwhacker within a hundred 
miles ? Confound all your guerrillas, I say ! {Looks at 
R.) There are the people taking their way to the little 
chapel yonder. O, heavenly peace and — (starts) Ha ! 
what's that? (Looks upiuard at L.) Well, if a gray 
squirrel starts me out of my boots in that way, what 
would a rebel do ? (Bell tolls outside at R.) There goes 
the chapel bell. (Bell tolls^ and organ plays that portion 
of the overture to " William TelV in which a triangle is 
used, leaving out, however, the trill. Bell stops, and organ 
plays pianissimo, and choir of female voices sings pianis- 
simo, outside, R., the air only of the " Hymn" from 
" Zampa:' 



, THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 41 

CHOIR. 

Ave Maria ! guard us and guide us, 

Be ever with us, ever beside us. 

Shield us, shield us from war's dread alarm ; 

Save us, save us from every harm. (^Repeat.) 

(Meamvhile^ Holmes takes a likeness from his breast ; 
looks at it intently ; shakes his head; kisses it; wipes his 
eyes with his hand ; puts up likeness. On the iniddle of the 
repeat of the " Hymn^* looks at l. Sfarts^ and levels 
tnusket at L., and fires. Organ and choir stop. Exit R. 
Guerrillas yell outside at L., faintly, as if at a distance. 
Count eight slowly after the gun fires, and then the drum 
heats long roll outside at r. Count twenty slowly after 
the gun fires, before the guerrillas appear, they meanwhile 
yelling gradually louder and louder. Enter guerrillas 
at L. and cross the stage at top speed, yelling like mad. 
They disappear at R. Sounds of the fight heard outside 
at R. Cries, firing, commands sotto voce, as if at a dis- 
tance; yells ditto. Revolvers are to he preferred to muskets 
for the firing. At the commencement of the fight, enter 
two guerrillas, R., who face about and load and fire mus- 
kets as fast as possible towards r. Enter two others, R., 
and cross the stage running ; exeunt at l.) 

Enter Muggins, r., limping badly 

Muggins {shaking his fist at R.). Vengeance! ven- 
geance on you for this ! The day shall come — O, you 
shall rue this day in sackcloth and ashes, — yes, in 
blood ! in blood ! {Limps towards l., nursing his knee.) 
O, O ! {Exit Muggins, l. All the guerrillas retreat. 



42 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Union troops cheer outside, r., faintly, to give the effect 
of distance. Count twenty slowly after the last guerrillas 
cross the stage before the Union troops appear. Enter 
Union soldiers on the run, cheering loudly, headed hy 
Captain Henry, who, as soon as he appears at r., ex- 
claims, — ) 

Henry. Halt ! boys. Halt, halt ! No use to chase 
farther ; the rebs are a mile off by this time ; they have 
horses, and we are afoot. That's the last you'll see of that 
crowd. Three or four of them have done their last fight- 
ing. Who is hit among you ? anyone? (Soldiers wipe 
their faces.) 

Crooke. Keeler is hit in the canteen ; got a bullet 
right through it. (Exit Scip, l. ; he is not in uniform.) 

Vincent. He is a dead man, then ; for the canteen is 
Keeler's vital part. (Soldiers laugh.) 

Keeler (who is sober) . All bosh ! The bullet only 
grazed the top of it ; it will hold water yet. 

Vincent. Water ! Not while you own it. 

Henry. My father's visit ought to have been to-day. 
I wish he might have been in season to have seen this 
pretty little skirmish. 

Col. (outside at R.). Give it to 'em ! Give it to 'em, 
boys ! Give 'em Buena Vista ! 

Henry. Ha ! that is he now ; that is his voice, — but 
too late to see the fight. 

Col. (outside). Where are they? Where are they? 

Enter Colonel at r., and with him Jim, both with double- 
barrelled shot-guns. 

Col. Where are the infernal rebels? (Looking at l.) 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 43 

There goes one now ; there goes one ! {Levels his gun 
to L., and snaps caps on both barrels.) 

Henry {rushing to his father and throwing up the gun). 
What are you about, father? What are you about? 
Don't you see it's Scip? Your own boy, Scip? 

Col. {aghast). What, what! Great Heavens! so it 
is. Here, Henry, take this gun, — take it away ! I 
never want to see another gun again as long as I live. 

Enter l., Scipio, badly scared. 

Scip. Gor — gor — goramity ! Ole mas'r, wa — wa — 
was you a gwine to shoot me ? 

Col. O, my poor boy ! My poor boy ! To think, if 
that gun hadn't missed fire, you would have been a dead 
Mexican, — I mean a dead nigger. O, what an escape ! 
What an escape ! 

Scip. {snivelling). It's bad enough to be shot at by 
de rebs, widout habin' own folks shootin' at me. 

Col. Don't say another word, Scip ; don't say another 
word. There's a ten-dollar gold piece for you. {Gives 
a coin.) You know 1 wouldn't shoot you for all the ten- 
dollar gold pieces that were ever — {A little pause.) 
Hold on ! hold on ! Let me see, — let me see. {Bursts 
into loud laughter.) Ha, ha, ha ! 

Henry {astonished). What is the matter, father? 

Col. {still laughing). Henry, come to think of it, 
that gun wasn't loaded. 

All. Wasn't loaded? 

Col. No. You see, just after I and Jim left home, 
Jim shot at a deer and missed him, — both barrels, like 
a confounded blunderhead, — and then we changed guns; 



44 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

and I remember I put the caps on, but I had forgotten to 
load ; so {takes Scipio hy the ear) it wasn't loaded, you 
rascal, you. No wonder I mistook you for a bush- 
whacker, with such a hat on as that. 

Scip. Well, ole mas'r, you gwine to take back dat 
ten-dollar gold piece, den ? 

Col. No, no ! boy. It is worth ten dollars to be as 
badly scared as you was. 

Scip. {aside). I donno which was de worst scared, 
me or ole mas'r. {The Colonel shakes hands all round 
with the men, daring the first part of the following.) 

Enter Mary Hazard, r., and runs to Henry. 

Mary. O, I am so frightened I O, Captain Blunt ! I 
am so frightened I 

Henry. What ! Mary ? I thought you was back home. 

Mary {all ready to cry). O, no, sir. I staid over here 
at my kinfolks' to go to the chapel, and I was right here 
in the chapel when they began to fire ; and the bullets 
broke the windows — and — boo — hoo — {Bursts out 
crying.) 

Col. Mary, my dear, don't you cry. You come with 
me, and I'll take care of you. 

Mary. And O ! while I was in the chapel I pra'yed 
for you. Captain Blunt. And I prayed for all the men 
— and — 

Scip. Did you pray for me, Miss Mary ? 

Mary. Yes. 

Scip. Well, I got some feelin's if I is a nigger. I 
takes all dat back what I said, — dat I could sing better 
dan you could. I takes all dat back. 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 45 

Henry. This child prayed for us, men ; let us see 
that we pray for ourselves, for our -wives, our children, 
for our country ; that victory and peace may crown our 
efforts, and that this war and all wars may cease. 

Col. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good. This 
war has cured my rheumatism ; and now that I have got 
the use of my right arm to swing my hat, let's have three 
cheers for the old flag, — the same old flag I fought un- 
der at Buena Vista. 

Henry. Now then, one ! 

Soldiers. Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Hurrah ! 

Scip. (dashing down his hat). Hurrah ! 

Und of Act 3, Scene 3. 
Act Drop falls. 



46 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

[^Between the third and fourth acts one year is supposed 
to have elapsed, j 

Act 4. Scene 1. — The Forest. Night. 

Enter Jim, l., carrying a small hag. 

Jim. My golly ! how dark it is ! Mas' be 'bout 
twelve o'clock. S'pose I see a ghost now. (Starts.) 
My golly ! I believe I step on a snake. I wish I was 
out o' dis. (SciP sings outside^ r.) Ah! What dat? 
(Listens.) Dat sound like our Scip. Can't be Scfp ; 
him and MasV Henry done gone a year ago. (Scip 
sings again.) Dat ar mus' be Scip, sure's de world. 

Enter Scip, wearing a ragged Union uniform., r. 

Scip. (briskly). Who dat? 

Jim (stupidly). Dat's me. 

Scip. Who's me? 

Jim. Colonel Blunt's Jim. 

Scip. (shaking Jim's hand). What? Dat you, Jim? 
You old tater-head ! how you does ? How's ole mas'r ? 

Ji7n (slowly). He's tol'able. 

Scip. An' Miss Ella? 

Jim. She's tol'able. 

Scip. An' de dear little Vi'let? 

Jim. She's tol'able. 

Scip. An' Miss Sally ? — she an' me didn't allers 
agree ; but she's a good lady. How's she? 

Jim. She's tol'able. 

Scip. An' how is you ? Is you wide awake, — same 
you used to be ? 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. , 47 

Jim. I's tol'able. 

Sci-p. (aside). Same derned fool he allers was. — 
(Aloud.) See here ! I aiu't got no time to fool away. 
I's boun' to git home an' git sumfin to eat. I's mos' 
starved. I done lost my horse, an' now I's marchin' 
straight for de ole cabin home, an' please God 1*11 be dar 
in less dan a half hour. What you got in dat bag? 

Jim. (slowly). Dar's roas' pork, dar's corn bread 
(sliowing the neck of a black bottle), an' dar's sumfio else. 

Scip. Fust of' all, gimme de sumfia else. (Takes 
the bottle and drinks.) Ha ! dat's de stuff. Sit down, 
Jim. (They seat themselves at c. F., on the ground.) 
Gimme de pork. Gimme de bread. (Scip eats rave- 
nously.) 

Jim. How's de times whar you been ? 

Scip. (luith his mouth full). O, you go 'way, nigger ! 
you donno nuffin 'bout war. 

Jim. You kill a reb, Scip, while you done gone? 

Scip. Reb ! kill a reb ? Humph ! Me an' Mas'r 
Henry kill mor'n tree hundred. 

Jim. Golly ! How many you kill, Scip? 

Scip. Well, I reckon I kill 'bout two hundred an' 
fifty, an' Mas'r Henry kill de balance. 

Jim. Golly ! 

Scip. O, dat's nuffin', dat ain't. (Continues eating.) 
One night, jis about as dark as 'tis now, me an' Mas'r 
Henry we was a ridin' along de road, — out jumps tree 
rebs outen de bushes, an' sings out halt ! We pulls up, 
kaze we see it was no use, — us two agin four. 
- Jim. Four ! I thought you say dar was tree ob 'em. 

Scip. No, no, — four. I tole you four. Well, den 



48 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

dey grabs de bridles ; tree ob 'em grabs my bridle, an' 
de oder two grabs Mas'r Henry's bridle. 

Jim. Dat's five. I thought you say dey was four. 

Scip. Ob course it's five. Dat's what I say all along, 
— five rebs ; five what we calls grillers. Well, Mas'r 
Henry he jis as cool as a cucumber ; says he, " Gemmen, 
jis you lef down dem bridles, or I make you walk a 
chalk." Well, dey didn't lef 'em down ; so we jis draw ed 
our six-shooters, and when dey went nex' mornin' to 
bury 'em, dar dey was, all seben ob 'em, dead as a mut- 
ton. 

Jim. Seben? I thought you say dey was five. 

Scijp. No, no ! Seben, I tole you, — seben ; all shot 
right troo de head. 

Jim. Golly ! 

Scip, O, dat's nufiin, dat ain't. (Jim takes the hot- 
tie.) Anoder time, me an' Mas'r Henry we was in de 
middle ob a big fight ; us two had killed, well, some- 
where 'bout tree or four dozen de rebs ; up come Colonel 
Warton on his ole white horse, an' he say — Gimme 
dat whiskey ! 

Jim. Was dat what de colonel say ? 

Scip. No, dat's what I say. {Takes the bottle and 
drinks.) 

Enter r., rear, Paul Hazard, unperceived. 

Well, as I was a sayin', de colonel he sings out — 
Hazard. What are you two doing here ? 
Scip. {starts to his feet) . Hi ! 
Jim. {slowly gets up) . Golly ! 
Hazard. Have you got passes, — you two boys ? 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 49 

Scip. Yes ; dat*s my pass. (Shows a paper.) *'Pass 
de boy vScipio from de camp on de Big Sandy to Colo- 
nel Robert Blunt's house an' back." Dat's Mas'r Hen- 
ry's pass, what he gimme. 

Hazard. What ! Is this you, Scip ? 

Scip. Yes, mas'r. (Recognizes Hazard.) What? 
dat you, Mas'r Hazard? Well, well ; I glad nuff to see 
you. How's all wid you at home? How's Miss 
Mary ? 

Hazard. Home! I have no home. {Exit Zim.^ cau- 
tiously.) My home is scattered in ashes, Scip. The 
rebels set fire to my house at midnight, my boy, — at 
midnight, — while my daughter lay asleep beneath its 
roof. Now the old colonel, your master, has taken her as 
one of his own family ; and now the colonel — Harkee, 
Scip ! you'll not see your old home to-night ; you must 
go back again, for life and death, to Captain Henry. Tell 
him, — mark me, Scip, remember every word, — tell 
him I have learned that his father's house is to be burnt ; 
and if the colonel is found at home after nine o'clock to- 
morrow night, I will not answer for the old man's life. 

Scip. {snivelling and wringing his hands). Good 
Lord ! Mas'r Hazard. What can I do? I done lost my 
horse. I can't go afoot. 

Hazard. Harkee, Scip ! Take my horse ; I have 
another. Jim, Jim ! Where, for Heaven's sake, is that 
Jim ? I want to send a message to the colonel, to let 
him know what's afoot. But there's no time to be lost. 
You take the mill road, Scip. I go the other, and be- 
tween us we'll be sure. {Lightning and thunder.) Give 
him the spur, boy ! Ride ! Remember it is for life and 
4 



50 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

death, — for life and death. (Lightning and thunder.) 
You'll have a wet ride, Scip. 

Scip. Never mind. I'll do it, Mas'r Hazard, I'll do 
it. Yon know I allers was a 'liable nigger. 

Hazard. You are a good boy, Scip ; you always was 
a good boy. 

Scip. Dat's jis what ole mas'r say when I done lef * 
home a year ago. (Lightnirtg and thunder.) 

[_Exeunt, k. 
End of Act 4, Scene 1 . 



Act 4. Scene 2. — Colonel Blunt's Parlor. Ella 
is lying on a lounge at R., attended hy Mary, who 
bathes Ella's forehead. Sally walks the room. 
Sally. 
What can we do? What will become of us? 

If brother had but only half the life 
He had twelve months ago ; but poor old man, 

Broken by sickness — hush, hush ! here he comes. 

Enter Colonel Blunt, l., rear, coming forward walking 
feebly and talking slowly. 
Col. 

Some deadly foe, whoever he may be, 
Has kept this* warning back ; now 'tis too late. 
There is no help for us except from Heaven. 

(Ella springs up,) 
Ella. O, father, fly ! It is not yet too late. 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 51 

Sally. 

Fly ? Not one foot ! Call in the servants ; bar 
The doors and bar the windows. Fight it out ! 

Mary. O, if my father did but know of this ! 

Col. 
Hush ! children, hush ! Now hear me. I have weighed 

This matter well, — looked at it on all sides ; 
And now my mind is calm and firmly fixed. 

Yet, sister, read that warning note once more. 

(Sally, taking a 'paper from her pockety reads.) 

Sally. 

" Colonel Robert Blunt : You have been for a 
long time a marked man. Now you are a doomed one. 
For your treason to the state of Virginia, for your insults 
to the defenders of the state, for your efforts to overthrow 
its sovereignty (Ella throws herself on the lounge)., we 
hereby solemnly warn you that if, after nine of the clock 
on Saturday evening next, you shall be found within the 
limits of the state, you shall be dealt with according to 
the laws of Judge Lynch, in such cases made and pro- 
vided. Govern yourself accordingly. You are warned." 

No signature to this. Dated five days ago. (Ella 
springs up excited.^ and almost in hysterics.) 

Ella. 

O, horror ! Heaven have mercy. Save us ! help ! 

Col 

My child, be calm. Now, daughter, sit you down ; 
Listen ! I said I weighed this matter well. 

Suppose we fight it out, what's the result? 
My negroes killed, my homestead in a blaze, 

And you and I are shot ; and that's the end. 



52 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Now take the other side. Let these men come ; 

Find me unarmed ; my days have run their span ; 
My life is lived ; they cannot harm my soul. 

{Noise heard outside, R.) 

Enter Jim, r. 
Jim. O, mas'r ! Strangers all rouu' de house ! 

Enter, r., Simon and guerrillas, all with semi-masks and 
crape over their faces. Exeunt Sally, Mart, and Vi- 
olet, L., screaming. Exit Jim, l. 

Col. {with his arm, around Ella). I need not ask you 
whence you come nor why. 

Simon (who slightly limps). None of your airs with 
us, Robert Blunt ; the day for that is gone by. 

Col. (recognizing Simon). Simon ! I know you through 
your thin disguise ! Your walk betrays you. 

Simon (tears off the crape). Yes, and how came I 
to limp? Curse you — and your son ! Curse the whole 
tribe of you. You have lamed me for lite, among you ; 
but your day is over ; now comes mine. 

Col. Hear me ! 

Simon. Not a word. I'll stifle the whole brood of 
you. Now I have you under my heel, and now I'll 
stamp you out. (To Ella.) Away, woman, away ! 

Ella. (Throws herself upon her knees.) 0, gentle- 
men ! See me on my knees to you. Take all we have, 
— my jewelry, my purse, my watch, — take all (rises 
and throws her arms around her father), but spare him, 
spare him ! 

Col. Ella, you waste your breath. You call these 
miserable ruffians — gentlemen ? 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 53 

Simon, Put a gag in his mouth ! Tie his hands be- 
hind him ! Take that woman away ! Take her away ! 
{^Two guerrillas hear off Ella, l., screaming for help.) 

Simon (to the Colonel). Now for your reckoning. 
{They tie the Colonel's hands hehind him.) 

Col. Hear me ! I will speak, 

And tell the world what I have hid so long. 

Simon (drawing a pistol and pointing at the Colonel's 
head). Ha! that's enough ! 

1st Guerrilla (to Simon, crowding him hack). Re- 
member what you said. You swore you would not take 
the old man's life. 

2d Guerrilla. No, no ! Give him fair play, and let 
him speak. 

1st Guerrilla. Let him go on. Now let him have his 
say. 

Col. (to Simon). 

Have you forgot when you, a ruined man, 
Came straight to me for help ? Did I refuse ? 

Who raised the mortgage from your house and lands? 
You know I took not even your note therefor, 

But only took your word ; and have you paid ? 
Or do you call this brutal treatment pay? 

(Simon motions again to shoot.) 

Nay, let the ruffian shoot me if he will ; 
The time has come ; his crime shall come to light. 

Simon. 

See here, old man ! Where are your courts of law? 
Where are your juries, and your cobweb writs? 

Not one of these (pointing) that has not killed his man 
Within these twelve months, — since the war broke out. 



54 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Now fire up, men, and quick ! By hell, we'll rout 
This brood, and give them all a fire to light 

Them on their way. {To Colonel Blunt.) Now 
come with me. Come on ! 

Enter Sally, L., greatly excited^ addressing Simon. 

Sally. 
Can you be man or devil? Do you dare 

To lift your hand to harm that reverend head ? 

{To the men.) 
If there's among you one Virginian born, 

I ask you, will you stand and see him harmed? 
That poor old man (sobs), with one foot in the grave. 

(Sobs.) 

Simon. Go on, go on ! I like to hear you sing. 

Col. 
O, you vile wretch ! Well may they call you " wolf." 

Do you not look to see the fire from heaven 
Come down and strike and blast you where you stand ? 

Simon. Go on, go on ! I'll square it up with you. 

Sally {aside, hurriedly). They shall not say we did 
not strike one blow. {She draws a small pistol and aims 
at Simon. The pistol is seized by 1st guerrilla, and 
wrenched from her.) 

1st Guerrilla. Are you insane? 

Sally {fiercely). Yes ! You have made me so. 

{Exit Sally, l. The guerrillas cluster at the rear and 
whisper together. SiMON goes to closet at R., and returns 
to c. with bottle and silver cup.) 

Simon, 

Look here, men, look ! this curst aristocrat 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 55 

Is not content with glass ; to drink his wine 

He must have silver. 

Col. (aside). 'Tis my grandchild's cup. 

Simon {pours wine iyito the cup). 
Now men, before you burn the house, take what 

You want. Now here's a toast for you. Here's death 
To all that shirk the Southern cause. Here's death ! 
(Simon raises cup. Pistol shot at r. Simon falls dead at c.) 

Enter Henry, r., and Union soldiers, r. and l. Enter 
Hazard and Scipio. 

Henry. Seize them, seize them ! They cannot es- 
cape. Seize them, men! {The guerrillas are seized 
without resistance.) My father ! 

Col. O ! my son, my son ! {Exit Hazard, l. Hen- 
ry throws his arms around the Colonel.) My hands are 
tied, Henry. 

Henry {untying his father). Vincent, remove those 
fellows. See them safely guarded. 

1st Guerrilla. Captain, let me say a word. 
Henry. 
Not a word ; not one word. Away with them ! 

[Exeunt guerrillas, R., guarded. 
Father, tell me of my wife and children. 
Col. Safe ! Thank Heaven ! Thank Heaven ! 

Enter Ella, Sally, Mary, Violet, and Jim, l. 

Ella. My husband ! O, my husband ! 

Violet. O, father ! {They embrace.) 

Sally. Saved, saved ! and from what a fate ! 



56 THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 

Mary. 

No one can know that fate better than I ; 

For we at home awoke at dead of night, — 
And woke to find our dwelling in a blaze, 

And all the air alive with dreadful yells. 
I think these fellows are the very ones 

That drove us shelterless out in the storm. 
I know I saw that dead man in the gang. 
Henry. 

This wolf it was that did that cursed deed, 
As well as this ; but he shall prowl no more. 

Now there he lies ; there ends a wretched life, 
A life of hate, of malice, and of blood. 

How can a man dare so to live his days 

That when he dies all good men shall rejoice? 

(Tiuo soldiers drag off the hody^ R.) 
Call Mr. Hazard, Jim ; go, call him in ; 

\_Exit Jim, l. 

I wish to thank, before you all, the man 
Who saved us. That brave, faithful man, to whom 

We owe a debt we never can repay. 

Enter Hazard and Jim, l. 

Here stands the man {puts his hand on Hazard's 
shoulder) who for a year has lived 

In hourly peril ; who has risked his life 
A hundred fold as much as we have done. 

Who merely stood in battle. 
Hazard. I have done 

The best I could to serve my country's cause ; 
'Twas but my duty. 



THE VIRGINIA VETERAN. 57 

Henry. Modest as you're brave. 

Hazard. 

I am content. My valued friends are saved. 

My daughter has a home. But thank that boy 
(points to SciPio) as much as you thank me. 
Col 
As a reward for faithful service done, 

Now, from this time henceforth (imts his hand on 
SciPio), this boy is free ! 
Scip. No, no ! ole mas'r, none o' dat ! I gwine to 
stick by de ole place. You know, ole mas'r, I allers was 
a 'liable nigger. (The Colonel wipes away a tear, and 
takes SciPio by the hand.) 
Henry. 
Bright, happy days are yet in store for us ; 

Soon may we see the welcome dawn of peace, 
The golden halo of the coming day. 
Col. 

Let us all pray this cruel war may cease ; 
And when 'tis over, may we peaceful live, 

A reunited family of states, — 
All hate dispelled beneath the starry flag 

I've followed, — even from my boyhood's days. 

Curtain. 



SPENCER'S UNIVERSAL STAGE, 



W 



i) 43. 



36. Diamond cut l>iamoiid. An In- 
terlude in One Act. By W. H. Mur- i 
ray. 10 Male, 1 Female character. | 

.37. liook after Brown. A Farce in 
One Act. By George A. Stuart, 
M. D. () Male, 1 Female character. 

38. Monseigneur. A Drama in Three 
Acts. By Thomas Archer. 15 Male, I 
3 Female characters. 

.39. A very pleasant Evening. A 
Farce in One Act. By W. E. Suter. 

3 3Iale characters. 

40. Brotlier Ben. A Farce in One 
Act. By J. M. Morton. 3 Male, 3 
Female characters. 

41. Only a Clod. A Comic Drama in 
One Act. By J. P. Simi)Son. 4 Male, 

1 Female character. 

42. Gaspardo tlie Gondolier. A 
Drama in Three Acts. By George 
Almar. 10 Male, 2 Female charac- 
ters. 

Snnslkine tlirovigli tlie Clouds. 
A Drama in One Act. By Slingsby 
Lawrence. 3 Male, 3 Female char- 
acters. 
I>ou't Judge by Appearances. 
A Farce in One Act. By J. M. Mor- 
ton. 3 Male, 2 Female characters. 
IV^ivsey Cliickweed. A Farce in 
One Act. By T. J. Williams. 4 
Male, J Female characters. 
^ ^,j. Mary Moo; or, "Whicli sliall I 
y Marry.^ A Farce in One Act. By 

<^ W. E. Suter. 2 Male, 1 Female 

character. 

47, East liynne. A Drama in Five 
Acts. 8 Male, 7 Female characters. 

48. Tlie Hidden Hand. A Drama in 
Five Acts. By Robert Jones. ItJ 
Male, 7 Female characters. 

^^ 41). Silverstone's"Wager. A( ommedi- 
etta in One Act. By R. R. Andrews. 

4 Male, 3 Female characters. 

50. Dora. A Pastoral Drama in Three 
Acts. By Charles Rcade. 5 Male, 

2 P>male character*. 

51. Blanks and Prizes. A Farce in 
One Act. By Dexter Smith. 5 
Male, ',' Female characters. 

52. Old Goosetoerry. A Farce in One 
Act. By T. J. Williams. 4 Male, 
2 Female characters. 



45. 



i) 



53. Who's Wlio. A Farce in One Act. 

By T. J. Williams. 3 Male, 2 Fe- 
male characters. 

54. Bouquet. A Farce in One Act. 2 

Male, 3 Female characters. 

55. Tlie Wife's Secret. A Play in 

Five Acts. By George W. Lovell. 
10 Male, 2 Female characters. 
5C. The Babes In the ^"ood. A 
Comedy in Tliree Acts. By Tom 
Taylor. 10 Male, 3 Female charac- 
ters. 

57. Putkins : Heir to Castles in the 

Air. A Conii(i^ Drama in One Act. 
By W. R. Emerson. 2 Male, 2 Fe- 
male cliaraciers. 

58. An I^gly Customer. A Farce in 

One Act. By Thomas J. Williams. 
3 Male, 2 Female characters. 

59. Blue and Cherry. A Comedy in 

One Act. 3 Male, 2 Female charac- 
ters. 

(50. A Doubtful Victory. A Cumedy 
in One Act. 3 Male, 2 Female char- 
acters. 

n. The Scarlet I.etter. A Drama in 
Three Acts. 8 Male, 7 Female char- 
acters. 

62. Tl' hich will have Him ? A Vau- 

deville. 1 Male, 2 Female charac- 
ters. 

63. Madam is Abed. A Vaudeville in 

One Act. 2 Male, 2 Female charac- 
ters. 

64. The Anonymous Kiss. A Vaude- 

ville. 2 Male, 2 Female characters. 

65. The Cleft Stick. A Comedy in 

Three Acts. 5 Male, 3 Female char- 
acters. 

66. A Soldier, a Sailor, a Tinker, 

and a Tailor. A Farce in One 
Act. 4 jMale, 2 Female characters. 

67. Give a Dog a Bad IVame. A 

Farce. 2 31ale, i^ Female Characters. 

68. Damon and Pythias. A Farce. 

'. Male, 4 Female cliaracters. 

69. A Husband to Order. A Serio- 

Comie Drama in Two Acts. 6 Male, 
3 Female characters. 

70. Payable on Demand. A Domes- 

tic Drama in Two Acts. 7 Male, 1 
Female character. 



\l 



B 



;^ 



Q 



Price, 15 cents each. Descriptive Catalogue mailed free on application to 
CEO. M. BAKER & CO., 

Nos. 41-45 Franklin Street, Boston. 




Plays for Amateur 

By GEORGE M. B^ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




Author of " Amateur Dramas," " The Mimic Srage." *' The Social Stagre^ — x 
'•A Bakers Dozen," CfC. 

Titles in tliis Type «»re IVew Plays, 



015 910 097 2 



DRAMAS. 

Ih Three A cts. Cts. 

My Brotlier's Keeper. 5 male, 3 

female characters 15 

hi Two A cts. 
Among the Breakers. 6 male, 4 
female characters 15 

Sylvia's Soldier. 3 male, 2 female char- 
acters .15 

Once on a Time. 4 male, 2 female char- 
acters 15 

Down by the Sea. 6 male, 3 female 
characters 15 

Bread on the Waters. 5 male, 3 fe- 
male characters 15 

The Last Loaf. 5 male, 3 female char- 
acters 15 

In One A ct. 
Stand BY the Flag. 5 male characters. 15 
T 'fi Tempter. 3 male, i female charac. 15 

COMEDIES and FAKOES. 

The Boston I>ip. 4 male, 3 female 
characters 

riie Dncliess of T>ublin. 6 male, 
4 female characters 

We'ke all Teetotalers. 4 male, 2 
female characters 

A Drop too Much. 4 male, 2 female 
characters 

Thirty Minutes for Refreshments. 
4 male, 3 female characters 

A Little More Cider. 5 male, 3 fe- 
male characters 



Male Characters Ofily. 
Oeiitlemen of tlie Jury. 12 char. 
A Tender Attaclinient. 7 char. . . 
The Tliief of Time. 6 char. . . . 
The Hypochondriac. 5 char. . . 
A Public Benefactor. 6 char. . . 

The KimaAvays. 4 char 

Coals of Fire. 6 char 

Wanted, a Male Cook. 4 char. . . . 
A Sea of Troubles. 8 char 



FARCES. 

Frekdo.m of the Press. 8 char. . . . 

A Close Shave. 6 char 

The Great Elixir. 9 char 

The Man with the Demijohn. 4 char. 
Humors of the Strike. 8 char. . . . 
New Brooms Sweep Clean. 6 char. . . 
My Uncle the Captain. 6 char. . . . 
Female Characters Only. 

The Red Chignon. 6 char 

Using tile "^Veed. 7 char. .... 
A l-iove of a Bonnet. 5 char. . . . 
A Precious Pickle. 6 char .... 
The Greatest Plague in Life. 8 cha. 

No Cure, no Pay. 7 char 

The Grecian Bend. 7 char 

ALLEGORIES. 

A rraiiged for I^Fusic and Tableaux. 

The ISevolt of the Bees. 9 female 
characiers 

Lightheart's Pilgrimage. 8 female 
characters 

The War of the Roses. S female char- 
acters 

The Sculptor's Triumph. 1 male, 4 fe- 
male characters 

MUSICAL Al^'D DRAMATIC. 

The Seven Ages. A Tablta'i En- 
tertainmei.t. Numerous male ami fe- 
male characters 

Too Late for the Train. 2 male char- 
acters 

Snow-bound ; or, Alonzo the Brave 
and the Fair Imogene. 3 male, i 
female character 

Bonbons; or, The Paint-King. 3 male, 
1 female character 

The Pedler of Very Nice. 7 male 
characters 

An Origin.^l Idea, i male, i female 
character. . 

Capuletta ; or, Romeo and Juliet 
Restored. 3 male, i female character. 



M^ 



TEMPERANCE J'lECES. 

The Last Loaf. 5 male, 3 fema'e characters 15 

The Tempter. 3 male, i female character 15 

We'ke all Teetotalers. 4 mal*-, 2 female characters. 15 

A Drop too Much. 4 male, 2 female characters. 15 

A LiTTLfi More Cider. 5 male, 3 female characters. I5 

The Man with the Demijohn. 4 characters 15 




